On May 29, 1790, Rhode Island became the 13th and final colony to ratify the U.S. Constitution. Before independence, Rhode Island was an early center of resistance to British rule. In 1772, a group of Rhode Island townsmen burned a Royal Navy schooner, the HMS Gaspee, which was enforcing British customs trade laws in Narragansett Bay.
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CSG Midwest brought an interactive session to the Minnesota Capitol in April on “Creating a Culture of Excellence and Civility.” Participants explored research-based strategies to enhance core leadership competencies that create a culture of excellence and civility — a culture centered in and motivated by relationship building, respect, clear communication of expectations, purposeful habits, a pro-active mindset and accountability.
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Some 20 years ago, Cory McCray appeared likely to become another casualty of the Baltimore streets he called home. But McCray, a Maryland senator who now serves as the deputy majority whip, bucked the odds. And he credits his reversal of fortune to an electrician’s apprenticeship program — one that not only changed his career path but also his life’s trajectory.
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As concerns grow about whether young people are prepared to enter the workforce, states increasingly are turning to registered apprenticeship programs (RAPs) as a pathway to train new workers and fill shortages in critical sectors, such as education and healthcare.
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The Council of State Governments and California Assemblymember Mike Gipson, 2026 CSG National Chair, honor the life and legacy of former chair and Washington Sen. Sam Hunt, remembering him as a trusted colleague, dedicated public servant and cherished member of the CSG community whose impact will be felt for generations.
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Passenger rail is receiving increased attention as Southern states assess its role in transportation systems, economic development, and regional mobility. This webinar explores how states across the region are approaching passenger rail infrastructure, focusing on planning, coordination, and long-term investment strategies.
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CSG Executive Director/CEO David Adkins and Illinois Sen. Elgie Sims Jr., 2026 CSG Immediate Past National Chair, joined fellow leaders of the “Big 7” state and local government associations on April 20 in Oklahoma City for a State and Local Leadership Summit focused on the future of American federalism and intergovernmental collaboration.
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CSG West has added new updates to its Forging a Resilient West dashboard, a daily updated hub for wildfire legislation tracking, bill comparisons, policy briefings, and tools supporting Western policymakers. The latest briefing highlights two wildfire-related bills signed into law during Oregon’s 2026 legislative session.
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CSG West has added new updates to its Forging a Resilient West dashboard, a daily updated hub for wildfire legislation tracking, bill comparisons, policy briefings, and tools supporting Western policymakers. The latest briefing highlights wildfire-related legislation from Washington’s 2026 session, including two enacted measures and two bills delivered to the governor.
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On July 26, 1788, New York became the 11th colony to ratify the U.S. Constitution. With its port and central location among the other colonies, New York played a pivotal role during the American Revolution. In one of the war’s first major battles, British forces defeated the Continental Army in present-day Brooklyn, forcing Gen. George Washington to withdraw his troops via a daring nighttime retreat — a feat historians would later count as one of Washington’s greatest military accomplishments.
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